HONOLULU -- Though the Dons' skid grew to five games in an 85-78 loss to Mississippi on Sunday, USF head coach Rex Walters found some reasons to be encouraged.

"It's a game we can build on," Walters said. "I thought our guys did a good job in executing the game plan. We are growing up, but we aren't there yet."

Murphy Holloway scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Rebels (9-2) back from a 13-point first-half deficit to win a consolation-round game in the Diamond Head Classic.

"We gave ourselves a chance," Walters said, "but they were just more physical than we were."

Mississippi outrebounded the Dons 33-27, the sixth straight game in which USF had fewer rebounds than its opponent. The Rebels blocked four shots; the Dons did not record a blocked shot.

USF (5-6) shot 60.7 percent from the field in the first half, but 40.7 percent after halftime. Cody Doolin led the Dons with 20 points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

De'End Parker had 17 points and Cole Dickerson scored 14 for the Dons.

USF led 32-19 with 6:17 left in the first half after Doolin's three-pointer, but the Rebels used a 14-4 run to cut it to 36-33 with 2:20 left until halftime. The Dons led 38-33 at the half.

There were nine lead changes in the game, which began at 10 a.m. Hawaii time.

The Rebels took the lead for good at 64-62 with a little more than seven minutes to play on Nick Williams' three-pointer. It was part of an 8-0 Mississippi run in less than a minute that turned a 62-58 deficit into a 66-62 advantage.

Mississippi prevailed even though it committed 14 turnovers and had all of five assists.

USF's five-game losing streak has come directly after the Dons won five in a row.

USF will play East Tennessee State, an 84-61 loser to host Hawaii on Sunday, in the seventh-place game Tuesday.